5 Great Educational Computer Games for Kids

In this deceptively simple-looking game, players must rely on the principles of physics to navigate a ball around obstacles that seem as though they were drawn by a child. A mouse, trackball or stylus (for those with touch screen computers) can be used to draw tools to help guide the ball in the right direction. As objects are drawn, they act on the ball according to the principles of physics, teaching kids about motion, energy and gravity as they play. If your kid draws a series of stairs, for example, the ball will hop down them realistically, it's momentum dependent on their height and angle. Children learn by doing, and because there's no right way to complete each level, kids are encouraged to experiment and be as creative as they want. While younger children are sure to enjoy the basic version of the game, older kids might want to take advantage of the deluxe version, which allows players to design and share custom levels using an online interactive playground.